Close X
Thursday, October 31, 2024
ADVT 
Cover Story

Celebrating Womanhood: Jessie Kaur Lehail

By Petrina D'Souza, 27 Mar, 2020
  • Celebrating Womanhood: Jessie Kaur Lehail

Jessie Kaur Lehail is a Storyteller & Founder of Kaur Project

What does being a woman mean to you?

Being a woman today means using your voice to empower others to create positive change. I define the word as being an intersectional feminist. Let me elaborate… We need to be more inclusive — engaging with women who are often forgotten and excluded, that may not have a voice or platform, in order to empower them to speak for themselves. We need to recognize the ongoing issues faced by women, such as exclusion of indigenous women’s’ voices, gender-based violence, the fight for equal pay, and the lack of women (especially minority women) in leadership roles. Recognizing that racial justice, environmental justice, worker’s rights, disability rights, immigrant rights, LGBTQIA+ rights are women’s issues as well; because every issue is a women’s issue. With the many challenges to women’s rights and equality that still exist — we also need to acknowledge the differences among women themselves, as we are not a homogeneous group.

 

Did you ever face a challenge simply because you were a woman?

Being a woman of colour, I have faced challenges frequently in my life, whether it be small daily micro-aggressions or more overt bigger challenges. I think staying grounded, using my voice when needed to speak up for myself and others (if needed), and having faith that things will work out in the end, have kept me on track. At times, I have ignored well-intentioned (almost cautionary) advice that didn’t align with what I have envisioned, simply because I am a woman. I think listening to opinions and ideas is important, but trusting your instincts and smashing stereotypes is also needed.

What projects are you working on in 2020?

I am currently working on Kaur Project 2.0. In March 2019, signature experiential programming was launched that includes moderated panel and food-focused conversations. I was profoundly inspired by the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak and the Mool Mantar which encapsulates the meaning of the Guru Granth Sahib in nine attributes. This has lead to developing some Kaur Project programming that reflects these nine attributes. Since November 2019, numerous collaborators have joined the project to create healing, self-discovery, and inward blooming workshops and meditation tools. This shift has enabled more Kaurs and non-Kaurs to collaborate with the project and further inspires the community of Kaurs to fight in solidarity for the right to love oneself and inwardly reflect in a world that teaches you to disappear and delve deeper in how we show up in the world. 

What’s your advice for women who wish to follow your path?

Take time to think about what really matters to you. Review your lived experiences, and then seek opportunities that align or make you grow from those experiences. Work hard and be your whole self. Be kind, do good, and keep learning.

Brought To You By: Teja Foods

 

MORE Cover Story ARTICLES

Holiday Feasting with Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor

With his easy demeanour, cheerful commentary, and simple instructions, Chef extraordinaire Sanjeev Kapoor can make anyone fall in love with food and the art of cooking. 

Vidya Balan: Diwali is about brightness

Diwali is a festival of lights, of positivity and of family bonding – and actress Vidya Balan agrees. “It is about brightness, about letting go of the darkness, of the fear within,” says the charming lady, who has captured hearts with her beautiful smile, electric personality, and brilliant acting skills.

Pranav Mistry : Changing the face of technology

The computer genius has created some of the most thought-provoking interfaces till date – namely Quickies, sticky notes that can be searched and can send reminders; a pen that draws in 3D; TaPuMa, a tangible public map for the physical world; Mouseless – an invisible computer mouse; SPARSH – a novel way to copy-paste data between digital devices; and Blinkbot – a gaze and blink controlled robot. Through all these experiments, Mistry “was trying to bring a part of the physical world to the digital world.”

Dr. Shimi Kang: Taking the road less travelled

Dr. Kang has always taken the unconventional path, and the many roles she plays in the community and through her work is proof of her journey.

Enchanting Goddess: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Enchanting Goddess: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Gorgeous, mesmerizing, ethereal – one can fall short of words when describing Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. 

Karthik Naralasetty: Socializing Change

Young entrepreneur Karthik Naralasetty’s social media application Socialblood has more than 300 thousand active users across the globe. This much-needed service has created a social space for thousands of potential blood donors and recipients to meet and donate through Facebook. Now, finding an ideal blood donor is just a few clicks away.